Use Armored Cable for Controller to Pump?

7/31/2025

Is it permitted to install fire pump cables, from the controller panel to the motor, through a cable tray using armored cables, at a height of about 4 inches (10 cm) above the finished floor level?

Are there any code or standard requirements that affect this?

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5 Comments

Sean

7/31/2025 08:16:51 am

This sounds like an NEC (NFPA 70) Article 230 and Article 695 reference exploration, as I believe there are various factors.

Todd Wyatt

7/31/2025 08:29:42 am

The scoping Code (e.g. IBC-2024) references NFPA 20 Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection as it pertains to Fire Pumps. NFPA 20 references NFPA 70 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE Article 695 Fire Pumps. See REFERENCES below.

From NFPA 70 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE Article 695 Fire Pumps :
The requirements covering reliable power supplies for electric fire pump motors correlate with those in NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection.
However, the NEC and NFPA 20 have a distinct division of responsibility for fire pump requirements.
PERFORMANCE ISSUES, INCLUDING THE DETERMINATION OF POWER SUPPLY RELIABILITY, are under the jurisdiction of the NFPA TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON FIRE PUMPS, while ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS are within the purview of the NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE COMMITTEE.

Todd Wyatt

7/31/2025 08:30:14 am

REFERENCES

NFPA 20 Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection
Chapter 10 Electric-Drive Controllers and Accessories
Enhanced Content
Chapter 10 describes the attributes of ELECTRIC MOTOR–DRIVEN FIRE PUMP CONTROLLERS, including CONTROLLERS WITH POWER TRANSFER SWITCHES AND SEPARATE POWER TRANSFER SWITCHES, all for use in electric fire pump motor circuits. Also covered in this chapter are accessories used with the controllers to ensure the minimum performance required by NFPA 20. The focus of Chapter 10 is the design, construction, and performance of the CONTROLLERS, transfer switches, and their accessories. This chapter also provides information to aid in SPECIFYING, INSTALLING, AND OPERATING THIS EQUIPMENT

10.1 General.
10.1.3* Design.
All ELECTRICAL CONTROL EQUIPMENT DESIGN shall comply with ARTICLE 695 OF NFPA 70 and other applicable documents.
A.10.1.3
All electrical control equipment design should also follow the guidelines within NEMA ICS 14, Application Guide for Electric Fire Pump Controllers.
Enhanced Content
The role of NEC Article 695 is emphasized in 10.1.3. NFPA 20 covers the minimum performance and testing requirements for controllers and transfer switches, while Article 695 covers the installation requirements of such equipment. Some of the requirements of Article 695 are extracted from NFPA 20 because those requirements are under the purview of the NFPA 20 Technical Committee on Fire Pumps. However, all the installation requirements for controllers, transfer switches, and fire pump accessory equipment are in Article 695.

NFPA 70 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE
Article 695 Fire Pumps
695.1 Scope.
(A) Covered.
This article covers the installation of the following:
(1) Electric power sources and interconnecting circuits
(2) Switching and control equipment dedicated to fire pump drivers
Informational Note: Text that is followed by a reference in brackets has been extracted from NFPA 20-2019, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection. Only editorial changes were made to the extracted text to make it consistent with this Code.
(B) Not Covered.
This article does not cover the following:
(1) The performance, maintenance, and acceptance testing of the fire pump system and the internal wiring of the components of the system
(2) The installation of pressure maintenance (jockey or makeup) pumps
Informational Note No. 1: See Article 430 for the installation of pressure maintenance (jockey or makeup) pumps supplied by the fire pump circuit or another source.
(3) Transfer equipment upstream of the fire pump transfer switch(es)
Informational Note No. 2: See NFPA 20-2019, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection, for further information.
(4) Water pumps installed in one- and two-family dwellings and used for fire suppression
Informational Note No. 3: See NFPA 13D-2019, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes, for further information.

Enhanced Content
The requirements covering reliable power supplies for electric fire pump motors correlate with those in NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection. However, the NEC and NFPA 20 have a distinct division of responsibility for fire pump requirements. PERFORMANCE ISSUES, INCLUDING THE DETERMINATION OF POWER SUPPLY RELIABILITY, are under the jurisdiction of the NFPA TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON FIRE PUMPS, while ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS are within the purview of the NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE COMMITTEE.

ELECTRIC MOTOR–DRIVEN FIRE PUMPS are covered by the requirements of ARTICLE 695. If a pump is installed in accordance with NFPA 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes, the requirements of Article 695 and NFPA 20 do not apply to the electrical installation.

Although the installation requirements for pressure maintenance (jockey) pumps are not covered by Article 695, these pumps are permitted by NFPA 20 to be supplied by a fire pump service or feeder or by a separate supply.

In respect to the power supply for a fire pump, Article 695 permits a single source if it is deemed to be reliable by the AHJ. This differs from the approach taken in Article 700 for emergency systems, where in

Todd Wyatt

7/31/2025 08:30:45 am

chad

7/31/2025 08:36:29 am

As an AHJ I would not accept any method not prescribed in 695.6.(D) (1)

695.6 Power Wiring (D) Pump Wiring (1) Wiring Methods.

Wiring from the controller(s) to the pump motor shall be in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing, liquidtight flexible metal conduit, or liquidtight flexible nonmetallic conduit LFNC-B, listed Type MC cable with an impervious covering, or Type MI cable

When you say armored cable, if you mean one of the above methods and you want to put it in cable tray, as long as its not subject to damage in the tray, that should be ok but that can be hard to accomplish in a busy pump room

Use Armored Cable for Controller to Pump?

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